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Many are expressing optimism that fairs can be in-person this year.

April 12, 2021

3 Min Read
4H livestock judging at fair
BRING BACK LIVE FAIRS! Early indications are that county fair boards and Extension are working toward live fairs of some sort in 2021.Tom J Bechman

One year ago, some counties didn’t have a fair. Others held virtual fairs and still others used a hybrid combination of virtual exhibits and live livestock shows, often limited to only family members. County Extension staff, parents, volunteers, judges and the kids deserve congratulations for doing their best to make lemonade out of a sour lemon.

This is a new year, and the pandemic hasn’t disappeared, but things have changed. Vaccines are making a big difference.

This time around, Extension and county fair boards appear committed to having in-person fairs of some sort. Heather Dougherty, Purdue University Extension youth educator in Johnson County, says the fair board there is planning for a live fair. Early indications are it may not look like the last regular fair in 2019, but it won’t look like 2020, either. In 2020, Johnson County held livestock shows only, one species per day, with limited attendance.

In Jackson County, Rickard Beckort, Extension ag educator, says the story is similar. The fair board is preparing for an in-person fair that complies with what local health authorities will allow. He notes that Purdue Extension is ready to support them.

Casey Mull, Purdue’s assistant director of Extension and 4-H youth program development leader, senses caution amongst those who plan fairs, but also believes fairs will happen.

“We expect 92 in-person county fairs in summer 2021,” Mull says.  “We demonstrated we could offer in-person events safely last summer and there is no reason at this point to not expect that this summer.

“We have shared with our 4-H’ers and each of our 4-H educators that we’ll follow state and local guidelines based on the governor’s executive order at that time and local health department guidance.”

Hope for the best

Here’s what 4-H’ers deserve in 2021:

In-person exhibits. Even in counties that held live livestock shows, many judged most other projects either virtually or with closed judging, where the judges couldn’t interact with kids. Virtual access serves its purpose in communicating, but as a judge asked to evaluate crops projects virtually in 2020, it’s not a viable solution for judging. Judges need to see the real project, and when possible, visit with the 4-H’er in person. That is where the most learning occurs.

In-person livestock shows with audiences. Judging livestock virtually, according to those who have participated in it, is even tougher. The 4-H’er learns the most when he or she can drive or lead a live animal into a ring and give his or her best effort to a live judge. There is no way to duplicate those precious moments in the show ring on a computer. And trying to mix virtual and live showing, as some fairs did, simply creates an uneven playing field, putting the judge in a difficult position.

County fairs with exhibits, activities and fairgoers. Here’s where working with county health officials and applying common sense becomes crucial. Not all county fairs may be able to bring back every activity they had pre-COVID yet this year, but hopefully we will see people in the stands at livestock shows and visitors on the fairgrounds. They will enjoy the social and networking activities a county fair can offer. Most of all, let’s hope they can see what 4-H’ers accomplish this year in person, and celebrate with them.

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